Archive for penguins

Barring any use of a time machine back to 1993, a game between the Penguins and Islanders normally wouldn’t get me going even if Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were healthy enough to play. But tonight is different because of what happened during their last matchup:

That February 11 matchup had a total of 346 penalty minutes, including 15 fighting majors, 20 misconducts and 10 ejections from the game.

What will be criticized as possibly the worst defensive play in NHL history. The only thing I can think of is that Gonchar thought that Moen was going to dump and chase and the puck was going to be sent into his corner. But that theory is shot down when you see Moen was a few feet before the red line before he let go of the puck.

There were still 15 minutes left in the 2nd period at the time of the goal; at 3-0, all Pittsburgh needed was one goal to get themselves back in the game. Talk about a backbreaker. Or seasonbreaker.

Pascal Dupuis is quietly putting together a pretty decent goal total this year. His goal today gives him 18 on the year, and he could reach 20 for only the second time in his career. The numbers are an obvious result of his linemates, but the fact of the matter is that Pittsburgh desperately needs more than their big two rolling once the playoffs start. If they plan on getting past the Caps in the Conference Finals this year, they need guys like Dupuis, Kunitz, Guerin and Fedotenko to pick up the pace for their run.

Should be another great game tonight between these two rivals. The only unfortunate thing is that Evgeni Malkin doesn’t look like he will be in the lineup. Either way, you are in for a good one; that is if you get the US version of the NHL Network or FSN Pittsburgh. Good job NHL. Im sure even Habs and Sabres fans would rather watch Sidney vs AO over their two teams, who will be facing off on TSN tonight. That game will probably be 3-1, take a look at the Pens/Caps games since the 2007-08 season: